Trust Betrayed As Protector Turns Predator – Worker Accused of Identity Theft Of Brain-Injured

A prosecutor said on Monday that, a health-center worker stole identities of patients with severe brain injuries, filed fake tax returns in their names and pocketed the tax-refunds.

The health-worker had easy access to them as he was working in the same health-center in New York where the patients were being treated.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect filed returns with the Internal Revenue Service in at least two states and swindled more than $200,000 in refunds.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said, that the suspect, Benjamin Achampong, 30 years of age was charged with ‘grand larceny, identity theft and other crimes in a 48-count indictment.’

Achampong is currently being held and his attorney has declined comment on whether his client is going to post the $5,000 bail.

In addition to the charges in New York, Achampong also faces charges in New Jersey, where he is suspected of using the same modus-operandi to obtain $30,000 in refunds. He has a past history of criminality as he was arrested in November 2011 last year, in Georgia, for credit card fraud, forgery and identity theft.

An arrest warrant was issued last week in New York, following which Achampong was extradited to Long Island last week.

Attorney Thomas Spota said that the suspect specifically chose the brain injury victims who were in such severe conditions that they “unable to qualify for any employment that would make them subject to paying income taxes.” Moreover, their condition made it practically impossible for them to assist detectives, owing to which the investigations slowed down.

“Achampong also is on probation in Nassau County, Long Island, for his conviction in a 2009 case, where he admitted stealing the identity of a dead developmentally disabled man to obtain debit cards, “ the prosecutor added.

In a press conference to announce the charges, Thomas Spota called Achampong, a “shameless, incorrigible thief who has absolutely no moral standards whatsoever.”

The Long Island’s Head Injury Association, the agency for whom Achampong worked has said that he has not worked at the facility since 2006. A spokesperson said, “The agency is shocked and appalled by the possible victimization of our clients by this former employee,” the statement said, stressing that the agency has cooperated with investigators and turned over all information and records that could assist them.

The prosecutor said, Achampong usually had the tax refunds, which ranged between $200 and $2,000 each, transferred electronically to one of at least 16 bank accounts he controlled. Spota noted that, ‘ tax officials do not question where to send a tax refund, as long as the filer provides a bank account and routing number for an account.’

“It was a very easy scheme,” Spota said. “He would always ask for monetary returns of just enough money not to arouse suspicion.”

Achampong allegedly used the money to buy a Range Rover and the expenses “of a number of girlfriends.”

Thomas Mattox, New York’s commissioner of taxation and finance said, “Identity theft is a very serious matter. It is even more troubling when it is alleged that the victim is a person with disabilities.”